Get to Know a Wedding Planner: So Eventful

Today’s wedding planner/coordinator interview is with San Healdsburg, California-based So Eventful. Take it away, Marisa!

Photo by Andrew VanGundy

Tell us a bit about yourself and your company.

My name is Marisa Manna Ferrell…the “Ferrell” part is a new addition to my name! I am proud to say that I recently got married! It was fun to be on the other side of things this time. My mother always told me, “Marisa, no man wants to marry a party girl”. But I found the one did! My family & best friends call me “Ris”. A bottle of bubbly & fresh oysters makes me a very happy girl! I have a real thirst for life and have a laid-back attitude.

So Eventful is a professional, full service company that does everything from weddings, social events and everything in between. As a professional wedding and event coordinator, I have a great sense of fashion, color and design. So Eventful is known for creating an event that is the perfect complement to our clients own style and desires. You’ll enjoy creating with So Eventful as you collaborate on colors, styles, fabrics, tastes, sounds, ambience and more. Whether you want dramatic beauty or just elegant simplicity, So Eventful weaves the various elements together to create a work of art that says “you” on your special day. Being a young, successful event planner has many perks for her clients.

See more of the interview after the jump…

Photo by Andrew VanGundy

How did you get into wedding planning?

Growing up my parents always entertain and still do, probably even more nowadays. I would always love helping my mother prepare for a party by setting a nice table, arranging table décor, picking out colors, and putting together flower arrangements. This is something that I have always really enjoyed doing. I went off to college to study Wine Business, once I graduated I started working for a winery, and helping friends with their events & wedding planning…from there, I decided THIS is exactly what I want to do. I took the plunge in 2009, when I started So Eventful.

Photo by Cinzo Photography

What’s your favorite part of the job?

I am the type of person who pays tremendous attention to detail. I thrive on high-pressure situations. I think and act fast on my feet, perform unbelievably well under pressure and I do it all with dignity and class to keep my clients at ease. I love making my clients day come together with all of their creative ideas.

Photo by Andrew VanGundy

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned, and would pass along to other new wedding planners just getting started?

I would strongly recommend to anyone who is looking to get into this industry, to do their homework. Many people think that since they planned their own wedding – they can now make a career out of it. Many people think that an Event Planner is one of the best jobs. I am bias; I will say yes it is. But to many, working the backside of events might not be as glamorous as you would think.

What are your hobbies or non-work-related activities?

I love to be outdoors & on the water. If I am not on the water, I like to play golf, shop, cook & entertain. I really enjoy being with my friends and family. I have an amazing husband and we have two sweet doggies: Fina, the boxer & Lew, the puggle. They are quite the dynamic duo. They keep us entertained.

Any great stories from working with a client?

Wayyyyyy too many to choose from – hmmm, this is hard: I have and had an unbelievable clientele. Some of which are famous, professional athletes, A-list celebrities, and normal couples too! The fact is they are all so different in many wonderful ways, but what I love most is that I still keep in touch with previous clients. We are friends on Facebook and we send Christmas cards to each other. I recently just had a bride, from Nashville, who got married in Napa….and between her friends and family they had to be the nicest group of people, BUT the best part was during the dancing, we passed around oversized foam sombreros, hotdog hats, chicken hats, Mardi Gras beads, glow sticks, light up tambourines, light up sunglasses and to top it off: Michael Jackson gloves. This was a surprise to all the guests. It was a way for everyone to lose all inhibitions and just enjoy the celebration of the couple…and the live music! It was awesome!

Photo by Wendy Kathleen McElfish

What is your current favorite color combination?

Ohhhhhh I am loving gold’s & silvers mixed together [kind of like the mercury glass look], accompanied by a slate grey, soft ivory and a burst of color; any bright color, I love coral hues. In addition to my favorite color combination, I am really digging different textures and patterns right now – mixing them together to get a contrast. It really makes your event details more vivid.

Photo by Andrew VanGundy

Are there any trends that you absolutely love or would love to see brides leave behind?

When brides add their own touches to make their wedding more personal – that is a trend I would love for clients/brides to carry on. Paper lanterns, I wouldn’t mind seeing some of those be left behind [LOL]